Why is improving corporate culture suddenly a topic that everyone is discussing? Much of the reason has to do with attracting and retaining good workers. At a time when good workers are at a premium, companies are scrambling to make sure their workplace is one that can bring in the best employees — and give them good reasons to stay.

According to a 2015 Gallup poll, less than one-third of employees in the U.S. consider themselves "engaged" at work. Just 32 percent of employees said they were engaged in their jobs, while 51 percent said they were not engaged and 17 percent said they were actively disengaged with their work. Similar numbers were found in 2014.

This is bad news for employers dealing with a tightening labor market. Non-engaged workers are not only less productive, they are more likely to leave, the Gallup survey noted. "These employees are not hostile or disruptive," the analysis said. "They show up and kill time, doing the minimum required with little extra effort to go out of their way for customers. They are less vigilant, more likely to miss work and change jobs when new opportunities arise."